According to the CDC, forty-three states have now taken action on newborn screening for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) through statute, regulations, or hospital guidelines. Of those 43 states, 32 (74 percent) are collecting or planning to collect CCHD screening data.

Through these actions, more newborns with CCHD may be detected, treated and able to live fully. CCHDs are birth defects that require treatment during the first year of life. Without timely detection, CCHDs could lead to disability or death. Newborn screening for CCHD allows for the possibility of early identification and treatment.

State mandates for newborn screening for CCHD will likely increase the number of newborns screened and cases detected, leading to more lives saved. In 2014, CDC collaborated with key partners to assess states’ actions for adopting newborn screening for CCHD. Data collection at the state level is important for surveillance, monitoring outcomes, and evaluation of CCHD newborn screening programs.

To learn more about NJ's newborn screening program for CCHDs, take the free online course on the NJLMN and earn 1.75 NCH credits. To register for the course, go to the NJLMN Online Catalog, search "Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects (CCHD) Using Pulse Oximetry" and click "Register." Once you register for this course, click "My Online Courses" in the grey top menu bar, locate the "Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects (CCHD) Using Pulse Oximetry" course, and click "first page" to begin the course.